Lag B’Omer – steeped in history

STAFF REPORTER

This year Lag B’Omer fell on Wednesday and Thursday of this week but the functions to celebrate the festival took place after the Jewish Report had gone to press and the picture of the big bonfire at Great Park Synagogue will be published next week.

The practice of counting the Omer is derived from counting the days from the barley offering at the Temple to the day of the wheat offering on Shavuot which signifies the end of the period of mourning.

The chag is also said to indicate a break from a plague said to have occurred during the days of Rabbi Akiva.  

The Talmud tells us a renowned teacher of Jewish mysticism Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai died on Lag B’Omer.

Today the holiday symbolises the resillience of the Jewish spirit. Celebrations such as weddings are permitted on this day and it is traditional to gather around a bonfire, or hold picnics, play sport or have other fun events.